Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-10-08
a Virginian Atlantis.

a tourist. possessing neither
sentiment, imagination nor ro-
nance, would find The east shore
of. Virginia a very undressing
study; but give him sentiment, ~
tinge Of color, knowledge ofhis-
ttory.. ard he idealizcs tile sandy
fields, the cedar swarnps, low hung
with gray moss swinging TO and
fro in the wind, the gliStening
white cabins and equally white
oyster.sIlell roads, and they allhol'l
for him all underlined fascination.
The traveller can choose Ills own
route and explore the coast of his
enchanted region by means ofsnme
line of steamers, or he can traverse
tile peninsula by the New York.
Philadelphia aud Norfolk railroad
land its connections. This road
las an alliance with the Pennsyl
vania Central by which it makes
use Of the terminal facilities of
that road in New York and Phlla
delplia, and It's trains run over that
track TO Delmar on the Delaware
maryland line of the peninsula.
The new line commences at Del
mar and traverSes the eastern shore
OF Maryland and Virginia, continu-
ing down the peninsula to Cape
Charles. The country covered by
this route is. remarkable for the
variety of it's productions. The
vast peach orchards, the rich yege
table and fruit lands, the great
oyster beds and numerous fisheries,
the sounds and bays tecming with
crabs, turtle and terrapin, and the
coast resorts of lnyrlads of game in
season, make this region the de-
light OF the epicure and paradise of
tile sportsman.
Arriving at Cape Charles, the
lrail;terminus of the line, passen-
gers are transferred to steamers
'I0f transportation to Old Point
Comfort, Norfolk and Portsmouth.
The commanding view afforded Of
Fortress Monroe contributes to the
enjoyment of the ride across the
Chesapeake Bay and the historic
Hampton Roads.
AS |, for the first time, was bolne
up one of the sinuous creeks OF the
peninsula, passing old Southern
plantations. negro cabins and strag-
Cling towns, Canaan, Atlantis,
Arcadia and Goldsmth's Deserted
Village were all brought to mind.
Pennsuar Virginia might we'll
suggest any one of them.
1t is separated. in a measure,
from the rest of tie world, and we'll
nigh forgotten, even BY its near
neighbors. Its bounded on the
north and east by Delaware Bay,
on the south and east by the At
lautic, and on the west by the
Chesapeake, containing parts of
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
My journey was made OH the
steamer .Tangier'' Of the East
Shore line, which runs from Balti-
more down,the Chesapeake Bay. l
found Captain Wilson and his fel-
low officers gentlemen who arc al
ways delighted 10 impart informa-
ton to the traveller and ready with
any service for his comfort.
Like all other ocean ports, Baltl,
more is at times smoky and ioggy,
full of tugs, barques, brigs, ships
steamers and men of wal from all
climes, bound for all ports, and la
den with every conceivable pro.
duct of human ingenuity.
But soon they are all passed;
Fort Henry left to the right, and
The half finished Fort Carrollstands
directly in The way, vast pile of
granite, of no use yet representing
the expenditure of IL million and a
half OF dollars.
1t is late in the afternoon, a fog
has crept down hardly noticed
and from our position i'll tie
pilot house We see the great in
bound ships glide past, the silence
broken every few moments by our
whistle, answered from all direc-
lions by. invisible craft-the fog
horn OF the ship, The shrill screech
OF the tug, and the deep resonant
lass of the ocean steamer.
The fog becomes so thick that we
can see but a few feet in advance,
two lookouts pace back AMI forth
on the bow, and the lights are
placed over each wheel and Ill
front.
To one who has never expert
enced a fog at sea there is some
thing weirdly strange in it. You
are lost IN an ocean OF sounds, aud
youwonder how the Quarternaster
steers ahead so confidently, with
out fear or dread, seeing nothing
and bearing only the lei,eraslve
shrIeks from score of Whistles.
During the night We have stop
ped at Crisfeld, passed T.ngier
Bay, and are now, at Six O'Clock,
just entering Pocomoke Sound.
Gradually the sound narrowS, the
shores ale plainly visible, low
marshes bound the land. AS we
enter the creek the water changes
from 81 deep green. to ~ muddy
brown, and then, receiving color
from The. sycamore ard cedar, be